Study shows improvement needed in stroke care

Issue: BCMJ, Vol. 53,
No. 7,
September 2011,
page(s) 325 News

The Canadian Stroke Network (CSN), one of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence, has released a study showing that there is significant work to be done to improve prevention, treatment, and recovery from stroke. Key findings include:

• Two thirds of stroke patients admitted to hospital do not arrive in time to receive the best possible stroke care.• Stroke patients need greater access to stroke units.• 77% of stroke patients do not receive treatment in a stroke unit. • When patients arrive at hospital, they are not treated fast enough. • Only 40% of patients who arrived within 3.5 hours of symptom onset received a CT or MRI scan within an hour of arrival.

The study, titled “The Quality of Stroke Care in Canada,” includes data from all health jurisdictions in Canada, and examines the quality of stroke care provided in emergency response, in-hospital care, and in rehabilitation and recovery.